The boardroom door slammed shut behind me, the echoes of the meeting still ringing loudly in my ears. My mind raced, trying to process the chaos that had just unfolded in that tense room. Mr. Collins, the man I had trusted implicitly, the man I had considered an ally and a friend, had betrayed me in the most shocking way. He had sided with Harold, the very person who was trying to steal my family's legacy right from under my nose.
"Emma!" James's voice cut through my swirling thoughts, his hand reaching out to steady me as I leaned against the wall. "Are you alright? You look pale."
"I can't believe it, James," I whispered, my voice shaking with disbelief and hurt. "Collins... he turned on me. How could he do this? I thought he was on our side."
"I know it's hard to take in, Emma," James said, his face etched with concern and empathy. "But we can't let this defeat us. We need to focus on what we can do next. We have to think strategically."
